CHAPTER III
THE TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION
When I opened my eyes the sun was up, and I saw, all standing aroundthe stockade, the elephants of the day before--but out of my reach!
They were fastened by the foot, by means of a rope which they couldhave broken without the slightest effort. They were eating with greatrelish the fine roots and grasses piled up in front of them.
I was too sad and mortified to feel hungry, and I looked gloomily atthese prisoners, whose happiness and contentment I could not understand.
After they had finished eating some men arrived, and far from showingfear, they saluted them by flapping their ears--giving every sign ofjoy. Each man seemed to be welcomed by one special elephant to whomhe gave his sole attention. He loosened the rope from the foot, andrubbed the rough skin with an ointment, and then, upon a signal, thecaptive bent back one of his fore-legs to enable the man to mount uponhis colossal back. I looked at all this with such astonishment that Ialmost for the moment forgot my own sufferings.
And now, each man being seated upon the neck of an elephant, they, oneafter another, fell into line and marched out of the enclosure, and thegate was shut behind them.
I was alone; abandoned. The day was long and cruel. The sun scorchedme, and hunger and thirst began to cause me suffering.
I struggled no more. My legs were lacerated by the vain efforts I hadmade. I was prostrate--hopeless!--and considered myself as one alreadydead!...
At sunset the elephants returned, each one bearing a ration of food;and again I saw them eat joyously, while hunger gnawed my stomach andno one noticed me.
The night again descended. I could no longer suppress my screams, whichwere more of misery than of rage. Hunger and thirst prevented me fromsleeping, even for a moment.
In the morning a man came towards me. He stopped at some distance, andbegan to speak to me. I could not, of course, understand what he saidto me, but his voice was gentle, and he did not appear to threaten me.
When he had finished speaking he uncovered a bowl that he carriedfilled with some unfamiliar food, the appetizing odour of which made mefairly quiver!
Then he came near, and kneeling, held out the bowl to me.
I was so famished that I forgot all pride, and even all prudence (forwhat was offered me might have been poisoned)! At any rate, I never hadtasted anything so delicious; and when the basin was empty I carefullypicked up the smallest crumbs that had fallen on the ground.
The elephant who had captured me now drew near, bearing a man on hisback; he made me understand by little slaps of his trunk that I shouldbend back one of my fore-legs to allow the man who had fed me to getupon my neck. I obeyed, resigned to anything, and the man sprang upvery lightly and placed himself near my head. Then he pricked me withan iron--but very gently--just to let me know that he was armed, andthat he could hurt me terribly at this point, so sensitive with us, atthe least sign of rebellion.
Sufficiently warned, I allowed myself to show no impatience. Thenthey removed my manacles; the other elephant took up the march, and Ifollowed quietly.
We left the stockade, and they led me to a pool in which I waspermitted to bathe and drink. After the privations I had suffered thebath seemed so delightful that I could not make up my mind to leave itwhen the time came; but a prick on the ear told me plainly that I mustobey, and I was so afraid of being again deprived of food and drinkthat I rushed out of the water, determined to do all I was bid.
We now went towards the strange objects that I had seen in the distanceon the plain, on the day I was made prisoner. I learned later that itwas the city of Bangok, the capital of Siam. I had never yet beheld acity, and my curiosity was so aroused that I was anxious to reach it.As we drew near men appeared on the sides of the road, more and morenumerously, so that the way was crowded. They stood on each side of thepathway, and to my great surprise, I at last discovered that it was _I_whom they were expecting, and had come out to see!
At my approach they uttered shouts of joy; and when I passed beforethem they threw themselves, face-downward, upon the earth, withextended arms, then rose and followed me.
At the gates of the city a Procession appeared, with cloth of gold, andarms, and streamers of silk on long poles.
All at once there was a noise--so wonderful that I stopped short. Onewould have said it was composed of shrieks and groans, and claps ofthunder, and whistling winds, mingled with the songs of birds! I wasso terrified that I turned to escape, but found myself trunk to trunkwith my companion, who was following me. His perfect tranquility, andthe roguish wink that he gave me, reassured me, and I felt mortified tohave exhibited less courage than others before so many spectators, andI wheeled about so promptly that the man on my head did not have timeto prick my ear.
I was ordered to stop in front of the leader of the Procession, whosaluted me, and made an address.
The great and fearful noise had ceased, but began again as soon as thispersonage had finished his speech. The Procession turned around nowand preceded me, and we again moved on. I then saw that it was men whowere _making_ all this noise. They struck various objects--they tappedthem--they whistled into them--and seemed to take the greatest trouble!That which they made was called "_Music_." I grew used to it in time,and even came to think it agreeable. I was no longer afraid, and allthat I saw interested me, and delighted me greatly.
In the city the crowds were even denser, and the rejoicings morenoisy. They spread carpets on the route I was to traverse; the houseswere wreathed with garlands of flowers, and from the windows they threwphials of perfume, which my rider caught, flying, and sprinkled over me.
Why were they so glad to see me? Why were all these honours showeredupon me? I, who in my own Herd had been repulsed and disdained....
I could find no reply at the time, but later on I learned that it wasthe whiteness of my skin which alone was responsible for all thisenthusiasm. That which seemed to elephants a defect, seemed admirableto men, and made me more valuable than a treasure.
They believed my presence was a sign of Happiness--of Victory--ofProsperity to the Kingdom--and they treated me accordingly.
We had now reached a great square in front of a magnificent buildingwhich might well cause amazement to a "wild" elephant. Often since thenI have seen this Palace, and with better understanding, but alwayswith the same astonishment and admiration. It was like a mountain ofsnow, carved into domes and great stairways, with painted statues, andcolumns encrusted with jewels, and tipped with globes of crystal thatdazzled the eyes. The tall golden points rose higher than the domes,and in many places red standards floated, and on all of them there wasthe figure of a _White Elephant_!
All the Court, in costume of ceremony was assembled on the lower stepsof the stairway. Above, on the platform, on either side of a doorway ofred and gold, elephants covered with superb housings were ranged--eightto the right, eight to the left, all standing motionless.
They summoned me to the foot of the stair, and there I was told tostop. A great silence fell upon all. One would have said that there wasnobody there. The crowd which had been so noisy now was mute.
The red and gold doorway was opened wide, and all the people prostratedthemselves, resting their foreheads upon the earth.
_The King of Siam appeared_.
He was borne by four porters in a pavilion of gold, in which he satwith crossed legs. His robe was covered with jewels, and scatteredblinding rays. Before him walked young boys dressed in crimson, whowaved great bunches of feathers attached to long sticks; others carriedsilver basins out of which came clouds of perfumed smoke.
I am able to describe all this now, with words which I have learnedsince then; but at that time I admired without understanding, and Ifelt as if I was looking upon all the _Stars of Heaven,_ and the _Sunat Noonday_, and all the _Flowers of the loveliest Spring_--at one andthe same time!...
The bearers of the King descended the steps in front of me. His Majestyapproached. Then my conductor pricked my e
ar, and my companion struckmy leg with his trunk, indicating that I was to kneel.
I did so voluntarily, in the presence of such splendour, which seemedto me as if it might burn any one who should touch it!
The King inclined his head slightly.... _THE KING OF SIAM HAD SALUTEDME!_ (I learned afterwards that I was the only one who had ever beenhonoured in such fashion. And I was soon able to return the King'ssalute, or rather to anticipate it.)
His Majesty addressed me with a few words which had an agreeable sound.He bestowed on me the name of "_King-Magnanimous_" with the rank of_Mandarin of the First Class_. He placed upon my head a chaplet ofpearls set with gold and precious stones, and then retired to hisPalace.
The multitude, who until now had remained prostrated, now rose up, andwith shouts and cries of joy, accompanied me to my own palace, where Iwas to dwell.
It was in a garden, in the midst of an immense lawn. The walls were ofsandal wood, and the great roofs extended far out on all sides; theywere lacquered in red and glistened in the sunlight, with here andthere globes of copper, and carved likenesses of elephants' heads.
I was taken into an immense Hall, so high that the red rafters whichinterlaced overhead and supported the roof made me think of thebranches of my native Forest, when the sunset reddens them.
An old elephant was walking slowly about the Hall. As soon as he sawme he advanced towards me, flapping his ears in welcome. His tuskswere ornamented with rings and golden bells, and he wore on his heada diadem like that which the King had just placed on mine. But allthis did not improve his appearance. His skin was mottled with dingypatches, like dried earth, and cracked in spots; his eyes and earswere encircled with rednesses; his tusks were yellow and broken, andhe walked with difficulty. But he seemed amiable, and I returned hiscourtesies.
My conductor descended from my neck, while officers and servantsprostrated themselves before me as they had done before the Kinghimself.
Then they led me to a huge table of marble, where in great bowls andvessels of silver and gold were bananas, sugar-canes, all sorts ofdelicious fruits, and choice grasses--and cakes--and rice--and meltedbutter.... _What a feast!_
Ah! how I wished that those of my Herd who had made a mock of me couldsee how I was treated by _Men_!
My heart swelled with pride, and I no longer regretted my liberty andmy native Forest.